Steve Sarkisian Hit With $10M Reality Check as Matt Rhule’s Questionable Influence Draws Intense Scrutiny

For a program that’s all about ‘we’re back,’ the Texas Longhorns seem strangely shy about showing themselves off. Spring football is usually a party, a sneak peek at the evolving roster, a chance for young guns to shine. But this year, the party might be canceled in Austin. Rumors are flying that head coach Steve Sarkisian is thinking about scrapping the spring game. That’s partly because the Longhorns are coming off a long 2024 season (16 games!). Rest is key if they want to break that title drought. And the real influence behind this shift spread from Lincoln.

It’s the trickle-down effect from a B1G coach who’s already made his stance clear. Nebraska’s Matt Rhule is leading the charge against public spring games, citing concerns over tampering and NIL-fueled poaching. His words were direct: “I hate to say it like this… because last year we were one of the more televised spring games, and I dealt with a lot of people offering our players a lot of opportunities after that.” Essentially, Rhule sees spring games as an open invitation for rival programs and boosters to scout, recruit, and steal. But canceling an entire tradition in response? That’s a different conversation entirely.

Not everyone is buying it. That SEC Podcast hosts Shane and Mike didn’t hold back, ripping into both Matt Rhule and Steve Sarkisian for even entertaining the idea. “I don’t want to hear this s–t that we ain’t going to do spring games. Get off you’re a–, get out there, and entertain!” Shane fired off. He wasn’t done either, turning his attention to Nebraska’s coach and calling him out in the bluntest terms possible. “I think old d—–s up there in Nebraska was the first one that did this ‘cause he’s got a sh—y team, and he don’t want people to notice it until the fall.” To them, this isn’t about tampering—it’s about dodging scrutiny and shielding teams from early criticism. And if Nebraska can get away with it, why wouldn’t Texas follow suit?

Of course, the Horns are in a very different position than the Huskers. Steve Sarkisian is coming off a 16-game campaign that ended with the Longhorns knocking on the door of a national championship. His roster is stacked, the expectations have never been higher, and his paycheck—north of $10 million a year—reflects the demands of the job. That’s exactly why Mike took aim at him, too. “You getting paid over 10 million dollars, you could have a d–n spring game….You know why he’s getting paid all that money? Because they’re getting paid through Disney, ESPN, and in those contracts, it says you have to have a spring game or at least some kind of televised content. It’s for the fans,” he said.

That part can’t be ignored. Television deals drive modern college football, and spring games are more than just glorified scrimmages; they’re business assets, content providers, and critical marketing tools for programs that need to keep their brands strong in the ever-expanding world of NIL.

Then there’s the fan angle, which might be the most important piece of all. CFB is getting more expensive, and for many, a spring game is the only opportunity to experience the sport in person without breaking the bank. Shane laid it out clearly: “There’s many people… quite frankly, this sport is pricing them out of going to games on Saturday. A lot of fans, particularly ones with big families, this is how you introduce your family to college football—a spring game, a game that you can actually afford to take your family to.”

Not every Longhorns fan can shell out thousands for season tickets, and for some, that spring scrimmage is the one time they can step inside DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. Strip that away, and you’re cutting off a key part of what makes college football more than just a game—it’s a community, a tradition, a lifeline for generations of fans.

Steve Sarkisian gets his 2024 CFB grades

Canceling the Spring Game isn’t just a buzzkill for fans—it’s a serious financial hit. With Nebraska and Texas both calling off their games, the programs could be looking at six-figure losses. But Matt Rhule’s decision might just be the start of a bigger trend. Former Georgia star and ESPN analyst David Pollack sees the writing on the wall. “I would expect a lot of people to follow suit,” he predicted. “This is the first, they’re probably the trendsetter of this. And I think more will follow because of the frustration with some people in the rosters.”

Meanwhile, over in Austin, the hype around Steve Sarkisian is reaching new heights. Despite canceling the Orange-White game, Sark remains one of the most respected coaches in the game. On3 Sports just ranked him No. 4 on their list of the Top 25 college football coaches, and honestly? That feels spot on.

Sarkisian has completely reshaped Texas football, guiding them to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances and assembling a roster stacked with talent. And with a potential Heisman winner in Arch Manning—at least according to Xavier Worthy at Super Bowl LIX media—the Longhorns are primed for success.

Sure, Texas hasn’t won a national championship yet, but as On3’s Ari Wasserman pointed out, “Sarkisian has assembled one of the deepest, most talented rosters in the country.” For Nebraska and Texas, financial losses may sting, but for Sark, the real prize is building a program that can compete with the best.